We were delighted to host ESG Impact: Challenges and Opportunities, an interactive roundtable on Tuesday, 10th September, led by Pablo Ponce de León.

Pablo, Technical Director at ESGNext and a former CFO and Head of Internal Audit in several multinational companies, provided a thorough update on ESG’s fast-changing regulatory environment and shared actionable advice for senior Finance and Procurement & Supply Chain professionals.

The session covered disclosure frameworks, the impact on key business functions, changes in corporate roles, and the complexities surrounding ESG data.

Participants were invited to contribute to a collaborative workgroup discussion which explored the following agenda:

1. Clarity of roles and responsibilities within their company
2. Integration of sustainability considerations in strategy and value creation
3. Preparedness for regulatory compliance and/or demands from the company's value chain
4. Data availability, leverage on suppliers, perceived quality
5. Customer willingness to pay for “greener” offering

Below are some of the key findings from each theme, however, if you'd like to receive a full summary, please contact Meriel Graham:

It was reiterated that the size of the organisation plays a significant role in the structure of ESG responsibilities. Larger organisations often have more defined roles with dedicated teams, while smaller companies may have individuals handling several roles, leading to "multiple hatting" and fragmented responsibility.

To drive ESG change, there’s a strong need for top-down financial incentives, especially in executive teams. Without incorporating sustainability into leadership’s performance metrics, prioritisation will lean on a “business as usual” approach potentially compromising the longer-term success of the company.

During the preparedness segment, it was found that resources are being allocated to sustainability, but ESG efforts are still largely viewed as a cost centre rather than a profit-generating activity. Companies are also struggling to see the return on investment (ROI) of these efforts.

There is potential for companies to turn sustainability initiatives into profit centres by utilising their existing infrastructure, capabilities, and assets. For instance, companies can explore circular economy models or expand product development and portfolio management efforts. These actions can help them stand out in the market, meet unmet needs of current customers, and attract new ones. Customer segmentation should be reassessed according to sustainability sensitivity.

In response to data availability, supplier audits—though commonly used—may be too costly and insufficient to uncover deep-rooted issues, particularly when suppliers are spread across diverse geographies and sectors. Companies need to develop more sophisticated ways of vetting and engaging their suppliers such as clear qualification mechanisms geared towards sustainable practices, onboarding and training initiatives.

In cases where data from suppliers is available, it is often difficult to ascertain its completeness and reliability. Therefore, pre-agreed controls and assurance mechanisms will be essential.

While exploring the final theme (customer willingness to play for a ‘greener’ offering), many companies find that developing a sustainable product has the potential to provide customer value. However, the primary drivers for such products seem to be regulatory and investor pressure, rather than direct customer demand—particularly in B2B markets.

In B2B sectors, a large portion of customers tend to expect sustainability as a given but are not willing to pay a premium for it. Companies are forced to innovate in ESG while keeping prices competitive, as sustainability is increasingly seen as a baseline requirement rather than a differentiator.

This unique development opportunity concluded with an ápero and informal networking. 

Overall, the event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the audience and we look forward to exploring this topic in further detail at future events.

If you’re a Finance professional in Switzerland, please contact Meriel Graham, or if you specialise in Procurement or Supply Chain, reach out to George Weemes to stay informed.

Disclaimer: Content shared during the event and in this article cannot be considered as legal advice. Please refer to your legal counsel. 

Disclaimer: Content shared during the event and in this article cannot be considered as legal advice. Please refer to your legal counsel. 

We hosted an enlightening and data-driven session on The Voice of the Manager – What managers really want! featuring keynote speakers Wayne Clarke and Erin Bouwen.

This exclusive event for senior HR and Finance professionals was held in Amsterdam on Thursday the 23rd of May at 16:00 CET. 

Wayne and Erin, from the Global Growth Institute, shared valuable insights into managerial needs, often differing from CEO perceptions. This is based on their organisation’s exclusive research/work with over 50,000 managers and more than 1000 CEOs in 30+ countries.

The session included a networking opportunity with food and drinks at the chosen location and a signed copy of their best-selling book How To Become A World Class Manager, published globally by Kogan Page.

If you are interested in attending similar events, please contact Katie Insley in our recruitment team in the Netherlands to recieve further details: [email protected]

On the 15th of May in Zurich, we welcomed Antonio Calco' Labruzzo, Global Head of Human Resources, GREFP and TBS at Takeda, to lead a roundtable discussion on leverging AI for internal growth. This event marked the third instalement of our Talent Acquisiton Roundtable series and an expansion upon our prior segment, AI within the TA function.

Antonio shared key insights into how technology is revolutionising talent management strategies within the multinational pharmaceutical company, Takeda.

The focus: "Creating an engine that delivers best-in-class experience of the 'People' function, whilst sustaining ambition."

The discussion was centered around three core areas that shape how people experience the organisation, aligned to their personal development trajectory:

• Establishment (Talent Acquisition): Focused on attracting emerging talent and creating a robust pipeline for future internal development.

• Strengthening (Talent Onboarding): Equipping managers to optimise performance and individual growth from day one, while fostering connections between employees and the organisation’s products, customers, and services.

• Acceleration (Talent Development): Creating an empowering environment that enables all workforce functions to thrive, underpinned by a culture of trust and engagement.

The group explored an Early Talent Process case study, that utalised AI to identify and develop new talent through rational experience. During the exploration a list of Talent Aqcuisition Tools, powered by AI was shared. If you'd like to recieve this infomation, please contact HR Recruitment Manager, Keely Straw. 

Following the in-depth topic exploration, group discussion, and a unique networking opportunity the event concluded. 

Recognising the sensitive nature of HR discussions, we prioritise creating a secure and confidential space for attendees to share their personal experiences. To maintain this atmosphere, we limit the number of participants at all our TA roundtable events.

If you'd like to be notified about future events in this exclusive series, please reach out to our HR recruitment team in Switzerland - Keely Straw, Drew Larcombe, or Kate Oliver.

We’re proud to announce that on April 18^th our M.D. Richard Bailey will be speaking at the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Accounting & Finance Conference in Amsterdam.

Held annually, this exclusive Conference offers a opportunity to gain vital market insights and connect with industry peers from a diverse range of companies and role functions.

Industry leaders will explore the future of the finance department, focussing on subjects including data-driven decision-making, ESG and corporate governance amongst others. View the full agenda here.

The Conference will commence at 9:00 with closing remarks scheduled for 16:45. The venue, Hotel Jakarta, is accessible via public transport and just 25-minutes’ walk from Centraal Station.

Richard will join the panel focussed on Talent Retention at 10:45, covering questions from the perspective of an experienced financial recruitment specialist, drawing on insights from an extensive network of clients, candidates and peers. If there’s a question you’d like him to address, you can reach Richard here.

Members of our specialist Netherlands Finance & Accounting team will also be in attendance to discuss your career goals and recruitment needs:

• Hannah Mallia – Director
• Georgia Wright – Director
• David Harper – Associate Director
• Emma Marshall – Senior Consultant

This event is open exclusively to IMA members, who can register here. If you’re not yet a member, take full advantage of complimentary access offered when signing via the IMA24 Accounting & Finance Conference event page.

If you can’t attend but want to discuss your recruitment needs or talent retention, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

EMEA Recruitment is proud to have been the exclusive European recruitment partner of the Institute of Management Accountants since 2020. The IMA’s global network has over 125,000 members spanning 150 countries, with both professional and student chapters.

On 6^th February 2024, we hosted a virtual Q&A with senior HR leader, Hein Knaapen.

This engaging conversation explored how human resources could truly make an impact on company performance.

Hein Knaapen, the Managing Partner - Europe at CEO.works, has a proven track record of partnering with leaders to generate value. He previously served as the CHRO at ING Bank, where he was responsible for the company-wide HRM and People strategy for over 53,000 employees across 45 countries worldwide.

His extensive experience and knowledge cultivated a deep dive into the critical role HR plays in enhancing company performance. Within HR, multiple functions contribute to the long-term growth of an organisation.

The audience was invited to submit questions beforehand to obtain tailored advice suited to their business case; a rare opportunity for many professionals seeking personalised advice from leaders and mentors in the profession.

Topics of discussion included value creation, impactful succession planning, and the growing importance of people analytics. Advice was also given to those moving into their first CHRO role – this was of great interest amongst attendees.

“When moving into your first CHRO role, the key is to remain focused. Ask yourself: 'How is this initiative, this solution, this priority going to make us a better company?'"

This session was also recorded - to receive the link, please contact Katie Insley, Director in our HR recruitment team: [email protected]

If you are an HR professional wanting to be notified of similar events, Katie can also ensure you stay informed.

Hein has previously appeared on the EMEA Recruitment podcast, hosted by our Founder, Paul Toms. In his first episode, Hein addresses his approach to cultural change and talent attraction. His second episode shares an extensive summary of his career and experiences. Find both episodes on our website:

• Episode 1
• Episode 2

EMEA Recruitment hosted an exclusive webinar on 29th January 2024, gathering senior Procurement leaders and professionals keen to develop their careers.

This online event was hosted in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), a global professional body which we connect with regularly in Switzerland.

During the session, we shared our Career Pyramid and the CIPS Career Ladder - unique consultation tools used to visualise and achieve career progression. We regularly offer our career consultation tool to candidates - explore our range of candidate services: emearecruitment.com/pages/candidates

Event attendees were placed into groups, led by hand-picked keynote speakers with extensive industry experience in various sectors. The groups swapped insights and discussed solutions to enable career development.

Our chosen speakers from the Procurement discipline included: Michael Bitar (ex-Julius Baer), Marcos Serrano Timonet (Philip Morris), Giuliana Orsini (TE Connectivity), Amat Patak (Estee Lauder), and Supply Chain professional Federica Bertola (Axalta). 

Nicolas Passaquin, Chief Procurement Officer at Telia, also led a group discussion and has previously completed an Executive Interview with EMEA Recruitment’s Founder, Paul Toms. Learn more about Nicolas’ career.

After the 20-minute group discussion, the groups were brought together to share a significant key action with the wider audience.

Some of the points are detailed below.

Key actions to advance your career:

• Find a mentor (informal/external/different industry)
• Leverage/develop your internal and external network
• Think about your value proposition and business impact
• Keep updated with certifications and industry trends for a competitive edge (AI, automation, and technological advancements)
• Leave your comfort zone, take risks, volunteer for challenges (cross-functionally/similarities between Procurement and Supply Chain)
• Action your development without waiting for managers

Participants left the session inspired to act and seize control of their career progression.  The webinar was well attended and a great chance to connect with like-minded individuals within Procurement & Supply Chain.

To be notified of similar events in the future, please contact Neil Cope, Director in our Procurement & Supply Chain recruitment division: [email protected]